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I have been testing a shirt made out of 70% spun bamboo/30% cotton for the past few months and really like it.

It is extremely soft, and breathable. One of the side benefits of the bamboo fabric is that it acts as a natural anti-bacterial agent. Using it for several days climbing, it didn't have that characteristic stink that over used clothing tends to get. It breaths real well and has done very well after multiple washings.

I will have some of these shirts for sale at the ABS Climbing Comp this Saturday at Rocksport. The cost will be $15. Available colors are black, gray, and white. varied sizes.

The shirt I have been testing has been washed 6 - 7 times and I will have that with me as well so you can see how it has held up.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to PM me. A guy I work with is the president of the Kentuckiana chapter of the American Bamboo Growers Society and is trying to promote the use of bamboo. Searching the web for similar shirts, I have seen them for anywhere from $20 - $30.

Geoff

just curious here but the fellow you mention is an importer right? or can bamboo grow in KY as well

He currently has over 25+ varieties of bamboo growing here locally. That's in New Albany. Some are over 30' tall.

He is about at the point where he will be able to ship plants nationwide.

that's just weird. i gotta see this bamboo shirt.

I am curious how the bamboo compares with sythetic material and its water absorbtion properties ("whicking").

Obviously hard to tell when you spin it with cotton, but what if you use a sythetic material. I think the anti-bacterial characteristic would be even more benificial if you could ware the clothing as a base layer for many days particualarly in cold weather when dry clothing is critical.

Seems like there would be a big market for this.

My interest in this are the same as Caspian's. How well does it wick moisture away? The 30% cotton concerned me.

I haven't done much testing with this but will be testing it on my next few backpacking trips. I did use it as a base layer for a couple of days while shoveling snow in late December and never had an issue of getting chilled.

I have worn it some while working out in a fitness gym here at work and it seemed to do ok. After working out, I had to remove it since I was returning back to work.

So far, there hasn't been anything that has caused me to be turned off to them.

Geoff

that's great he grows the boo locally, does he sell shoots I can put under peoples fingernails?

Crankmas wrote:just curious here but the fellow you mention is an importer right? or can bamboo grow in KY as well

There are a bunch of varieties of native bamboo in KY and the Cumberland plateau (River Cane for example). This area used to be a barren before the bipeds and the fescue took over so it was covered with grasslands and prairies and tons of native grasses. Bamboo is just one of many. There's a shitton of acerage at Fort Campbell with native grasslands that's pretty cool to see.

Of course, I was just an engwish major so talk to your local botanist for real data.

Bamboo is actually relatively easy to grow..works well as a natural privacy fence..grows nice & thick and TALL!

GWG..I would be interested in testing a shirt but will not be at the comp..how can I get my hands on one? Do you have a picture & colors??

GWG wrote:He currently has over 25+ varieties of bamboo growing here locally. That's in New Albany. Some are over 30' tall.

He is about at the point where he will be able to ship plants nationwide.

30 feet tall...sounds like good cover for another cash crop grow operation. Shirts sound interesting for sure.